"I wish him to win the Tour. Is he capable of it? I don't know" - Marc Madiot hopeful Lenny Martinez can emulate Bradley Wiggins

In 2025, Marc Madiot will be forced to say goodbye to one of Groupama-FDJ's brightest young talents, Lenny Martinez as the diminutive Frenchman departs for Bahrain - Victorious. One of Martinez's big goals is ending the wait for a French Tour de France winner and although he's not longer one of his riders, Madiot wishes Martinez all the best.  

So far, the 21-year-old has seen his development grow at Groupama - FDJ. As mentioned though, for 2025 and the immediate years beyond though, the diminutive climber is set for a new challenge at Bahrain - Victorious. "I'm going to do a lot of preparation this winter, on and off the bike, to achieve my goals," he recently revealed in conversation with Le Monde, not making any attempt to hide his ambition. "I want to win the Tour de France."  

"I wish him to win the Tour one day," Groupama - FDJ boss Madiot answers in conversation with Cyclism'Actu, drawing comparisons between Martinez and another of his former riders, 2012 Tour de France champion Sir Bradley Wiggins. "I have one of my former riders, Bradley Wiggins, who won it, so I would be happy if there was another one. Is he capable of it? I don't know. You know, when Wiggins left, we weren't particularly convinced that he was going to win the Tour de France, and yet he did it. I wish Lenny to go as high and as far as possible, and we will always have satisfaction from that at team level."

Despite the disappointment and seeing one of those riders banked as the future of the team depart, Madiot also insists there is no lingering ill will between rider and team. "Absolutely none, that's life," he assures firmly. "It's a story of means, but everyone also makes their own choices and determines themselves according to their own abilities. He may have had other ambitions, it's the law of the market."